Ludlow properties receive conservation awards

Over 20 Ludlow buildings were awarded for their contribution to the enhancement of the Ludlow Conservation area this week at the Ludlow Heritage Awards.  

Hosted by the Ludlow Conservation Area Advisory Committee (LCAAC), the event attracted over 90 people at The Charlton Arms, Ludlow on Tuesday 6 December 2011.

The annual LCAAC awards recognise the efforts of property owners, developers and craftsmen in the Ludlow community to achieve the highest standards of conservation, repair and restoration.

22 projects were given the conservation awards for buildings which had been renovated or refurbished to exceptional standards using both modern and ancient building materials and repair technology coupled with high quality craftsmanship. Projects included:

• St Leonard’s Church Yard and The Buttercross
• The Lodge, Ludford and Old Bell Cottages
• Church Inn and Steventon Manor Barn
• 8 Upper Linney and Dinham Lodge
• Dyddle Cottage, 21 Dinham and 17 Mill Street
• The Grotto, The Old Bell House, Ludford and 28 Mill Street
• Pie Cottage and 5 Corve Street
• 8 Corve Street and The Feathers Hotel
• 137 Corve Street and Ludlow Brewery
• 111 Corve Street and 9 Church Street
• Ludford Bridge and 27 Broad Street

LCAAC advises the Shropshire Council on planning and conservation issues in the Ludlow Conservation Areas.  The committee meets monthly and advises the council on design and conservation issues relating to current projects and applications received by the council.

Councillor Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for conservation, said:

“The Ludlow Conservation Area Advisory Committee performs a very special and valuable role in preserving and enhancing the character of the Ludlow Conservation Area.  I am very pleased that so many properties and their development teams have been awarded such a prestigious accolade; these awards illustrate the recognition they deserve.”

James Caird, Chairman of the committee, said:

“It was great to see how many local crafts people had contributed to such great projects in the town.  Ludlow certainly maintains high standards of quality, design and workmanship when it comes to conserving the historic environment.”

For more information about the awards contact Shropshire Council’s historic environment team on 01743 255669 or email historic.environment@shropshire.gov.uk

The Advisory Committee is made up of representatives of CittaSlow Ludlow, Ludford Parish Council, Ludlow and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Ludlow Civic Society, Ludlow Historical Research Group, Ludlow Town Centre Residents Association, Ludlow Town Council, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Shropshire Council, Shropshire Society of Chartered Architects.

8 Corve Street project details:

• erection of first floor extension
• fits very well into the street scene
• good use of traditional materials and design
• award to be given for a good well proportioned design;

 List of awards

1) St Leonard’s Church Yard

Project details:

• Clearing church yard and making new paths
• Voluntary project
• The Caring for God’s Acre Churchyard Task Team have worked very closely with the Friends of St Leonard’s
• Making a difference to the nature conservation value of St Leonard’s Churchyard
• local people managing their beautiful churchyards for people and nature 
• Award given for environmental enhancement

2) The Buttercross

Project details:

• total renovation to the cupola
• involving repairs and replacements of timber uprights
• and incorporating leadwork

3) The Lodge, Ludford

Project details:

• extension to lodge incorporating loft conversion
• this property had challenges due to its unusual shape and the work completed demonstrates the high skill level needed

4) Old Bell Cottages

Project details:

• re-pointing of three cottages
• raised the appearance of the terrace and quality of this part of the Conservation Area;
• The scheme is a good example of what can be achieved when owners of separate properties collaborate on a project;
• Award to be given for enhancement to the Conservation Area

5) Church Inn

Project details:

• replacement windows
• works do open up the area
• general appearance of area – contribution to the conservation area
• It was agreed the work is highly commendable;

6) Steventon Manor Barn

Project details:

• conversion of agricultural building to living unit
• maximum of historic fabric retained
• restoration project which reflects the history of the building
• retention of historic details and insertion of sympathetic new where needed

7) 8 Upper Linney

Project details:

• Works to front façade – replacement of the Upvc windows with timber should be encouraged
• General conversion and renovation of unit to provide holiday let within the town
• Not a listed building, positive contribution to CA

8) Dinham Lodge

Project details:

• General overhaul and renovation to provide family home
• Replacement kitchen extension
• owners have spent a lot of time unpicking the buildings history to discover what the original historic fabric would be been like
• The works undertaken are extraordinary and it has been completed to a very high standard.
• high quality and attention to detail

9) Dyddle Cottage, 21 Dinham

Project details:

• rear extension to provide enlarged living space at ground floor
• incorporating traditional materials and craftsmanship with modern
• ingenious scheme to enable a development of a small property which had many problems created by the properties boundaries not being in a straight line, the presence of a flying freehold and drainage and damp issues.
• All these have been resolved through the careful design and use of good quality materials
• ingenuity of the scheme on a small property;

10) 17 Mill Street

Project details:

• overhaul of rear façade
• replacement windows and new conservatory
• garden room – green roof
• The committee agreed the project as a whole has been handle well and in a subtle manner.
• high attention to details and high quality design,
• the positioning and materials of the rainwater goods have been incorporated as part of the design and are well thought out.

11) The Grotto, The Old Bell House, Ludford

Project details:

• restoration of shell grotto
• 2011 shells have been used in the restoration
• issues with flooding – damage
• focal point – views in and out of conservation area
• unique piece of restoration work;

12) 28 Mill Street

Project details:

• two storey small extension – well designed to include improved function and spaces
• development dealt with a small space well and the work has been completed well
• former side entrance which is now the main entrance to the property has not been meddled with and this enhances the character of the property;
• good design in a small space;

13) Pie Cottage

Project details:

• Like for like replacement of window and insertion of new door
• Total upgrading and conservation works internally
• Rebuilding of chimney – huge amount of work involved and careful consideration (including at one time – could it be saved?)
• work has been completed with a lot of care and respect for the small size of the property
• good example of how a small house can be well restored

14) Ludford Bridge

Project details:

• repairs to bridge following partial collapse
• quality of the work should be recognised as the repair work didn’t have to be done as well as it has been
• high quality of repair

15) 27 Broad Street

Project details:

• total renovation of the house
• completed to a high standard and the work has revealed some of the history of the building
• important house within Ludlow
• high quality of workmanship
• huge workforce

16) 9 Church Street

Project details:

• separation of shop to shop and dwelling
• renovation and re-order of internal spaces and enhanced shop produced
• good use of ‘above the shop’ provide additional and much needed units within the town
• Award to be given for the scheme enabling the reuse of the whole of the building;

17) 5 Corve Street

Project details:

• renovation and repairs to doorcase
• insertion of bay window
• works to steps and installation of railings

18) 8 Corve Street

Project details:

• erection of first floor extension
• fits very well into the street scene
• good use of traditional materials and design
• Award to be given for a good well proportioned design;

19) 137 Corve Street

Project details:

• general overhaul and conversion of building and bringing in maltings to the rear into residential use
• excellent quality of the work
• good example of how a listed building can be made accessible without major works to the historic fabric

20) 111 Corve Street

Project details:

• conversion of building from offices to residential
• complete overhaul – including works to timbers
• unsympathetic works completed in the past so much work to remedy lots of issues
• The work has been completed to a high standard will little evidence of its former use as offices

21) The Feathers Hotel

Project details:

• repairs and restoration works to ceiling in James I room – following flood
• hard to tell where works have been completed
• excellent restoration works

22) Ludlow Brewery

Project details:

• important part of Ludlow’s Heritage and the reuse of this building has been achieved in a manner which raises the appearance of this corner of Ludlow
• good quality renovation works
• boost local economy and visitor numbers
• good use of building in this part of town
• contributes to Ludlow’s Industrial past